The Lafayette Parish School System will allow students to peacefully participate in the National School Walkout on March 14 "without fear of disciplinary consequences."

The walkout will take place across the country. In Lafayette, it will be at 10 a.m. The walkout will last 17 minutes to honor the victims of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

In Lafayette, principals are reaching out to students and faculty members to coordinate and organize any local participation.

"The walkout highlights the rights of teachers and students to teach and learn in a safe school environment," LPSS officials said in a statement. "The walkout supports the position that change is necessary in order to provide a school setting that is free from the fear of being harmed at school."

The national effort is being coordinated by Women's March Youth EMPOWER to protest federal lawmakers' responses to mass shootings and demand more stringent legislation.

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